President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed the
Fair Election Act (SB 1742 and HB 9000) on 12 February 2001.
RA 9006, which is deemed immediately applicable upon signing,
allows candidates in the coming 14 May elections to use the
print and broadcast media in their campaign for as long as
they conform to the guidelines in terms of size and duration
stipulated in the act. Propaganda materials donated by supporters
should be accepted first by the candidate or political party
before it can be published or exhibited. A written acceptance
should be attached to the advertising contract for submission
to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
RA 9006 also allows election surveys. However,
survey results affecting national candidates should not be
published 15 days before the election and those affecting
local candidates, seven days before the election. Exit polls
will also be allowed, provided that they will be done at least
50 meters away from the polling area and that results may
be announced only after the closing of the polls on election
day.
To ensure equal coverage opportunities for candidates,
the law requires media personalities running for public office
to resign from their jobs or to take a leave of absence from
their work in the duration of the campaign period.
| Election
Schedule |
|
Date
|
Activities
|
|
15 November 2000 (Wednesday)
|
Deadline for filing petitions for registration of political
parties
|
|
30 November (Thursday)
|
Start of holding political conventions or meetings
for the nomination/selection of official candidates
for national and/or local positions of any political
party/organization or political groups or coalition.
|
|
27 December (Wednesday)
|
Last day to file applications for registration, transfer
of registration records
|
|
29 December (Friday)
|
Posting of notices of hearing of applications for registration,
transfer of registration records
|
|
Election Period
|
|
2 to 14 January 2001
|
Filing of certificates of candidacy for elective positions
in the ARMM
|
|
2 January to 12 February 2001
|
Filing of certificates of candidacy for all elective
positions outside of the ARMM
|
|
5 January 2001 (Friday)
|
Last day to file opposition to applications for registration
|
|
10 to 12 January 2001
|
Last meeting/s of the ERB to approve or disapprove
applications for registration
|
|
13 January 2001 (Saturday)
|
Last day to establish or create new precincts or alter
territory of an election precinct
|
|
Not later than 28 January 2001
|
Filing of petitions for inclusion of qualified voters
in the list with the proper Municipal or Metropolitan
Trial Courts for those whose applications for registration
have been disapproved by the Board or whose names have
been stricken out from the list.
|
|
Not later than 2 February 2001
|
Filing of petitions for exclusion of non-qualified
registrants
|
|
12 February 2001 (Monday)
|
-
Last day to submit certificate
of nomination of candidates of registered political
parties
-
Last day for party, organization
or coalition already registered with the Commission
to file manifestation of desire to participate in
the party-list system
|
|
13 February 2001 (Tuesday)
|
Posting of certified list of voters and precinct maps
|
|
13 February to 12 May 2001
|
Campaign period for Senators and parties, organizations
or coalitions participating under the party-list system
|
|
17 February 2001 (Saturday)
|
|
|
15 March 2001 (Thursday)
|
Last day for jail officials to post in three (3) conspicuous
places the list of prisoners or detention prisoners
under their care
|
|
15 to 29 March 2001
|
Notice of inspection and verification of completeness
of the VRRs for each precinct compiled in the book of
voters
|
|
30 March to 14 April 2001
|
Inspection, verification and sealing of books of voters
|
|
30 March 2001 (Friday)
|
Last day for heads of all reaction forces, strike forces
or similar forces to submit to the Commission a complete
list of all members thereof with such particulars as
the Commission may require
|
|
30 March to 12 May 2001
|
Campaign period for Members of the House of Representatives
and elective regional, provincial, city and municipal
officials
|
|
31 March 2001 (Saturday)
|
Last day for submission of nominees for party-list
representatives
|
|
14 April 2001 (Saturday)
(30 days before election)
|
-
Last day to close and seal the book of voters
-
Last day to furnish every registered voter with
an official sample ballot, voters information sheet
(VIS) and list of all national, party-list candidates,
provincial and city candidates to be voted in the
election
|
|
12 May 2001 (Saturday)
|
Last day of campaigning for all positions
|
|
14 May 2001 (Monday)
(7 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
|
ELECTION DAY (casting of votes)
|
|
14 May 2001(6 p.m.)
|
Convening of City, Municipal, Provincial and Regional
Boards of Canvassers
|
|
19 May 2001 (Saturday) (10 p.m.)
|
Convening of the Commission En Banc sitting as the
National Board of Canvassers for Senators
|
|
15 May to 13 June 2001
|
Filing of sworn statements of election contributions
and expenditures
|
